Heart valve holder-rotator

Abstract

A heart valve holder is provided for holding a heart valve prothesis including an orifice ring having an aperture with a circumferential surface, comprising: a body having a longitudinal axis; a first lever section having a first insertion end and resiliently attached to the body along a first flexure region having a first flexure axis for selectively engaging the heart valve prosthesis; and a second lever section having a second insertion end and resiliently attached to the body along a second flexure region having a second flexure axis parallel to the first flexure axis for selectively engaging the heart valve prosthesis. The body and the first and second lever sections include receiving means for receiving a flexible tensile member to secure engagement of the first and second lever sections to the heart valve prosthesis by flexing the first and second flexure regions so that the first and second insertion ends abut the circumferential surface of the aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A heart valve holder for holding a heart valve prosthesis including an orifice ring having an aperture with a circumferential surface, comprising: a body having a longitudinal axis;   a first lever section having a first insertion end and resiliently attached to said body along a first flexure region having a first flexure axis for selectively engaging said heart valve prosthesis;   a second lever section having a second insertion end and resiliently attached to said body along a second flexure region having a second flexure axis parallel to said first flexure axis for selectively engaging said heart valve prosthesis; and   said body, and said first and second lever sections further including receiving means for receiving a flexible tensile member to secure engagement of said first and second lever sections to said heart valve prosthesis.   
     
     
       2. The heart valve holder of claim 1 wherein: said first and second flexure axes are separated by a fixed distance centered about said longitudinal axis and define a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said body.   
     
     
       3. The heart valve holder of claim 2 wherein: said first and second insertion ends are normally disposed with respect to one another so that said first and second ends can both pass simultaneously through said aperture of said orifice ring.   
     
     
       4. The heart valve holder of claim 3 wherein: said first and second lever sections engage said heart valve prosthesis by flexing said first and second flexure regions so that said first and second insertion ends engage said circumferential surface of said aperture.   
     
     
       5. The heart valve holder of claim 4 wherein: said first lever section has a first arcuate channel for engaging said circumferential surface of said aperture; and   said second lever section has a second arcuate channel for engaging said circumferential surface of said aperture.   
     
     
       6. The heart valve holder of claim 5 wherein said body has a first end and said valve holder further includes: a first slot between said body and said first lever section extending from said first end of said body to said first flexure region; and   a second slot between said body and said second lever section diametrically opposed to said first slot and extending from said first end of said body to said second flexure region.   
     
     
       7. The heart valve holder of claim 5 wherein said first and second lever sections each include reliefs for accommodating said heart valve prosthesis. 
     
     
       8. The heart valve holder of claim 5 wherein said receiving means includes grooves in each of said first and second lever sections and said body, said grooves defining a common annulus. 
     
     
       9. The heart valve holder of claim 1 further including: a tool mounted to said body for positioning said body.   
     
     
       10. In combination, a heart valve holder for holding a heart valve prothesis during implantation, comprising: a heart valve prothesis including an orifice ring having an aperture with an inside circumferential surface; and   a heart valve holder including:   a body having a longitudinal axis;   a first lever section having a first insertion end and resiliently attached to said body along a first flexure region having a first flexure axis for selectively engaging said heart valve prosthesis;   a second lever section having a second insertion end and resiliently attached to said body along a second flexure region having a second flexure axis parallel to said first flexure axis for selectively engaging said heart valve prosthesis;   a flexible tensile member;   said body, and said first and second lever sections further including receiving means for engaging said flexible tensile member to secure said first and second lever sections to said heart valve prosthesis.   
     
     
       11. The heart valve holder of claim 10 wherein: said first and second flexure axes are separated by a fixed distance centered about said longitudinal axis and define a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said body.   
     
     
       12. The heart valve holder of claim 11 wherein: said first and second insertion ends are normally disposed with respect to one another so that said first and second ends can both pass simultaneously through said aperture of said orifice ring.   
     
     
       13. The heart valve holder of claim 12 wherein: said first and second lever sections engage said heart valve prosthesis by flexing said first and second flexure regions so that said first and second insertion ends engage said circumferential surface of said aperture.   
     
     
       14. The heart valve holder of claim 13 wherein: said first lever section has a first arcuate channel for engaging said circumferential surface of said aperture; and   said second lever section has a second convex arcuate channel for engaging said circumferential surface of said aperture.   
     
     
       15. The heart valve holder of claim 14 wherein said body has a first end and said valve holder further includes: a first slot between said body and said first lever section extending from said first end of said body to said first flexure region; and   a second slot between said body and said second lever section diametrically opposed to said first slot and extending from said first end of said body to said second flexure region.   
     
     
       16. The heart valve holder of claim 14 wherein said first and second lever sections each include reliefs for accommodating said heart valve prosthesis. 
     
     
       17. The heart valve holder of claim 14 wherein said receiving means includes grooves in each of said first and second lever sections and said body, said grooves defining a common annulus. 
     
     
       18. The heart valve holder of claim 10 further including: a tool mounted to said body for positioning said body.